Wachtberg (dts) - The German Beekeepers Association warns of agricultural damage caused by the introduced Asian hornet Vespa velutina beyond beekeeping. The insect could become a problem, especially when growing wine, the beekeepers' association said on Thursday, citing a survey from Spain and Portugal.
In the corresponding study, 123 agricultural technicians in wine and fruit cultivation from Galicia and Portugal were asked about damage caused by the insect. 83 percent of participants from Galicia and 25 percent of respondents from Portugal reported corresponding damage - particularly to grapes, but also to pears, apples, figs, plums, peaches, blueberries and blackberries.
The extent of the damage reported ranges from minor to massive. At least twelve percent of those surveyed from Galicia reported cases in which over 75 percent of the fruits were damaged. In addition, broken fruit bodies would attract other pests, it was said. In addition, according to the study, hornet stings posed a problem for vineyard visitors and harvest workers in the summer.
According to the Beekeepers Association, another study also points to problems with established control methods. For example, the use of hail nets against Vespa velutina was tested in traditional vineyards in Galicia. Without this protection, Vespa velutina damaged 10,9 and 11,9 percent of grapes (Blanco Lexítimo and Godello, respectively). However, such networks represent a visual impairment of the landscape and could have a negative impact on wine tourism, it said.
Based on these studies, the Beekeepers Association renewed its warning about potential dangers posed by the Asian hornet not only to beekeeping, but also to agriculture. The association also calls on politicians and authorities to take the challenges posed by the invasive hornet species seriously and to fulfill their duty to combat it everywhere.
